Casing structure



Jan. 14, 1930. W G, MYLIUS A 1,743,159

cAsING STRUCTURE Filed July 5. 1926 7 AT'TORNEY Patented Jan. 14, 193() Uris TESy

maite WALTER Gr. MYLIUS, OF JVILKINSB'URG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CASING STRUCTURE Application filed July 3,

My Ainvention rela-tes to casing structures and particularly to casing structures for portable Velectrical measuring instruments.

One object of my invention is to provide a casing, of the above indicated character,

that shall be clust-proof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a portable instrument casing in which normally exposed insulating edges shall be io protected against damage.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby rigid engaging-surface portions are adjustably related to tightly seal all of the engaging portions, irrespective of Al 5 irregularities therein.

Another object of my invention is to provide an annular floating member between the lid and box portions of a casing structure that shall assist in both sealing and clamping A the lid and box portion together.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for preventing warping of a relatively thin insulating box member that may also function as supporting means for an instrument face plate.

Heretofore` in casing structures for portable electrical measuring instruments, it has been usual to construct the top, bottom and side panels thereof of relatively thick wood so joined in one of the usual various ways.

Such structures are not onlyT relatively complicated and expensive to manufacture, but are also subject to damage and are relatively heavy.

It is my aim to overcome the above mentioned objections and to provide a portable instrument casing that shall be light weight, neat in appearance and better adapted to withstand the severe service conditions for which it is intended.

Accordingly, in practicing my invention, I provide a casing for a portable electric measuring instrument, such as a watthour meter, that is constructed of relatively thin fibrous insulating material, in which the walls are integrally Lmited and in which sealing means is so provided between the lid and body members as to prevent the admission of dust and other foreign particles to the instrument. This sealing means is also constructed to pre* 1926. Serial N0. 120,453.

vent warping of the casing and to assist in clamping the lid and casing members of the structure together. y

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is a plan view of a portable instrument casing constructed in accordance with my invention.

\ Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken along the line III- III of Fig. 1.

` The device comprises, in general, a main body or box-like-member 1, a lid member 2, also of box-like character, clamping means 3 for securing the members 1 and 2 to each other, a handle device 4 and a sealing or reinforcing element 5. Y

The bod-y member 1 is preferably constructed of relatively thin sheet fibrous insulating material impregnated with afhardened binder and comprising integrally united side, end and bottom walls.

The lid member 2 is constructed similarly to the body member 1 and 'has an open-end perimetral portion 7 adapted to register with the olpen-,end perimeter 8 of the body portion The clamping means 3, at each side of the structure, is of a usual and well-known type comprising a member 10 secured to the lid 2. a member '11 secured to the body portion 1 and a pivoted-link member 12 on the member 11 for holding cooperation with a projection 14 on the member 10.

The handle device 4, the mid portion of which is broken away, is also of ordinaryV construction, comprising members 15 of substantially U-shape,'secured to the body portion 1, as by screws 16, and a reinforced leather or other portion 17.

The sealing elementor means 5 comprises an annular metal member, of substantially channel or'U-shape in cross-section, that mov-p ably embraces the open-end perimeter 8 of t-he body portion 1 and has a laterally extending inner portion 19. rEhe latter portion constitutes means for so reinforcing the mem ber 5 as to prevent warping or angular movement of the side walls of the body portion 1, as

might otherwise be possible in relatively thinwalled, boxlike structure of this character.

Yieldable means 20, such as an annular felt ring or member, is disposed between the openend perimeter 8 of the body portion l and the channeled member 5, whereby the latter is disposed in substantially floating relation between the members l and 2. This construction presents rigid surface portions between the elements 7 and 5 which, by reason of the floating character of the member 5, may be caused to engage each other in relatively tight flat sealing engagement all around the perimeter of the casing. I

The inwardly-extending portion 19 Yon the member may also constitute means for supporting a face plate 2l of the instrument.

Since the open-end perimetral portion 8 of the body member l is covered Vby the channel member 5 it is prevented from chipping and other damage Whi ch might be met in service. In operation, when the lid member 2 is not secured to the body 1 by the means 3, or is removed from position entirely, the member 5 rests lightly on the yieldable ring member 20.'

When the lid member is pressed downwardly on the member 5 for clamping by the means 3, if the plane of the perimentral portion 7 is not exactly true with respect to the planes of the member 5 or the portion 8, all

automatic aligning adjustment occurs be-v tween the parts so that there areno openings for the admission .of dust around the adjafor said open end, said box and lid being each formed of one piece of relatlvely thin fibrous insulating material, the lower perimetral edge of said lid fitting the upper perlmetral edge of said box When said 11d 1s 1n closed position, a metallic channel member of substantially inverted U-shape vexclusively embracing the entire upper perimetral edge of said box, and soft yieldable material disposed between the top of sai-d perimetral edge of said box and the inside of said metallie channel, said metallic channel member having a laterally extending inner portion and a face plate mounted on said inner portion for supporting the instrument.

In testimony whereof, I Ahave hereunto subscribed myV name this 24th .Clay O June,

WALTER G. MYLI'US,

cent abutting perimeters yof the lid and box.V Y

By my invention, I have provided an extremely simple and economical structure for sealing, reinforcing and protecting an insulating casing that is light in Weight, neat in appearance and effective in operation and that has other advantages over prior-artdevices of similar generalY character. e

While I have shown and described a specie form of my invention, changes maybe e'ec'ted therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth-in the appended claims. Y

I claim as my invent-ion:

l. An instrument casing comprising a boxlike bodyportion of insulating material, a relatively movable member of substantially channel-shape in cross section embracing the open-end perimeter thereof and lravingwa laterally extending inner prtiomand a face plate supported on said inner portion,

2. A casing structure comprising a body member, a lid member therefor and a separate substantially rigid member of substantially channel-shape exclusively embracing the entire perimetral edge of only one of said members, and yieldable means for rendering said rigid member bodily adjustable with respect to said one member when said lid and body members are pressed together.

3. A casing for an instrument comprising a box having an open upper end and a, lid 

